Session

Architecture and Spatial Planning

Description

The demolition scene with explosives of the Pruitt-Igoe 1 buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, was part of the American experimental documentary film "Life out of Balance". The complete and utter destruction of a massive modern housing project seen in the video inspired me to search for the truth behind the scenes. Even though designed by Minoru Yamasaki 2 and inspired by Le Corbusier and the CIAM 3 , the Pruitt-Igoe project underwent modifications by public housing authority that eventually resulted in changes during the design and construction phase. Incomplete implementation of Yamasaki's initial design and many subsequent revisions of the project transformed Pruitt-Igoe from an ideal public housing model to a site of despair, failure, and ultimate destruction. Financial restrictions in construction, racial segregation, a high crime rate, as well as clashes between different groups, also contributed to the demise of the project.

Keywords:

Pruitt-Igoe, Yamasaki, Public Housing

Session Chair

Arber Sadiki

Session Co-Chair

Ajhan Bajmaku

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-437-96-7

First Page

52

Last Page

58

Location

Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

31-10-2020 1:30 PM

End Date

31-10-2020 3:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2020.28

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Oct 31st, 1:30 PM Oct 31st, 3:00 PM

Factors that contributed to the failure of the Pruitt-Igoe Housing

Lipjan, Kosovo

The demolition scene with explosives of the Pruitt-Igoe 1 buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, was part of the American experimental documentary film "Life out of Balance". The complete and utter destruction of a massive modern housing project seen in the video inspired me to search for the truth behind the scenes. Even though designed by Minoru Yamasaki 2 and inspired by Le Corbusier and the CIAM 3 , the Pruitt-Igoe project underwent modifications by public housing authority that eventually resulted in changes during the design and construction phase. Incomplete implementation of Yamasaki's initial design and many subsequent revisions of the project transformed Pruitt-Igoe from an ideal public housing model to a site of despair, failure, and ultimate destruction. Financial restrictions in construction, racial segregation, a high crime rate, as well as clashes between different groups, also contributed to the demise of the project.